Toy theater stage



Dec. 9, 1952 E. SCOLA 2,620,591

TOY THEATER STAGE Filed Jan. 11. 1.950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 INVENTOR. RNESTO S OLA Dec. 9, 1952 SCQLA 2,620,591

' TOY THEATER STAGE Filed Jan. 11, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR.

ERNESTO ScoLA Patented Dec. 9, 1 952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOY THEATER STAGE Ernesto Scola, Milan, Italy Application January 11, 1950, Serial No. 137,963 In Italy. January 19, 1949 4 Claims.

My present invention relates to a box made of cardboard or similar material, to be used as a container of sweets, small objects, toys, or other things, and such as to be transformable, after having finished its use in the aforesaid sense, into a little theatre for marionette or puppets, also commonly known under the name of a Punch and Judy show.

It is an object of my present invention to create a cardboard-box, including fixed and mobile parts, the latter moving within the former, in order to constitute a system of frontal opening which reproduces, in miniature, the curtain of a theatre.

Another object of my present invention is to create a box transformable in the above mentioned way, that can be produced using an originally fiat sheet of cardboard, which cardboardsheet, if folded along certain predisposed lines, would form the aforesaid fixed parts.

A preferred embodiment of my present invention consists of a box containing parts to be used as the marionettes or puppets, as well as other parts to be used as the elements necessary to move the said puppets and to work them from outside the box on the little stage obtained by opening certain parts of the box.

I obtain such aims by constructing the box as described below and as represented in the attached designs, among which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the closed box,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same, but opened,

Fig. 3 is a perspective rear view.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of one half of the flat sheet of cardboard or similar material, of which the box should be made,

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the other half of the blank during the folding,

Fig. 6 is a transversal section of the folded box,

and,

Fig. 7 is a modified embodiment of the box.

In all these different designs, the same numbers refer always to the same parts.

While closed, the box has the appearance shown in Fig. 1 and precisely, on its front surface I an aperture 2 is provided, whose surroundings represent, in miniature, the proportion of the curtain frame of a stage.

The said aperture is closed by two parts 3 and 3 that can move behind the surface i in the direction indicated by the arrows.

The said movable parts 3 and 3 are connected with the respective side parts 4, which can rotate round their posterior folding-edge line AA as an axis.

2 I By means of this displacement, as shown 1 Fig. 2, the movable parts 3 and 9 reach the position 3a and 3a, thus giving completely free the aperture provided in the front surface I.

At the same time, the side parts 4 have reached the position 4a, i. e. they actually are now in line with the boxs back surface;

In order to complete the transformation of the box into the stage of a miniature theatre, the outside upper surface 5 is lifted by folding it back} along the line BB, until it reaches the position 5a, in which, as may clearly ,be seen inFig. 3, it is maintained by means of its side flaps 6 and 6, that are leaning on the inside part of the upper surface 8 of the box.

The outside part of the upper surface 5 having been lifted to the position 5a, the slit formed apertures 1 provided in the inside part of the boxs upper surface 8, are uncovered.

These slit shaped apertures have the purpose of allowing the little puppets or marionettes 9, 9, and 9 to be introduced into the box.

The marionettes are connected with long flat ledges 1,10, and I0 which, protruding as they are above the inside part of the boxs upper surface 8, allow moving and operating of the marionettes 9, 9, and 9 from outside the box. 5

It will be preferable to make themarionettes 9, 9, and 9 as Well as their ledges I0, 10, and ll), of the same cardboard or similar material, of which the box itself is made.

The frontal and upper surfaces of the boxes I, and 5 may be decorated in order to completeits ornamentation when transformed into a puppet. theatre in miniature, while the boxs back surface ll may be utilized to give the necessary instruc-. tions to the person that operates the little theatre, for instance the description of the main lines of a little comedy.

In Figs. 4 and 5 is shown how a box is folded, of a blank of light or heavy weight cardboard of which one half is shown in Fig. 4. The puppets, with their ledges necessary for operation thereof, may be obtained from the same sheet of card-v board.

This aim is achieved by shaping the cardboard blank in the manner indicated in Fig. 5 for one half of the blank.

The flat cardboard blank is transformed into the box by folding it in right angles along all the dotted lines towards the inside, with the one and only exception of the line I2, which constitutes the axis BB, along which the boxs outside upper surface 5 of the box is to be folded as shown in Fig. 1.

When cutting out the aperture in the part I that is to become, later on, the front surface I, which aperture is to represent the curtain frame of a stage, some cardboard material is left over.

This material may be used to cut out the outlines of the little forms 9 that are to represent the puppets or marionettes.

In a similar Way, the cardboard material left over when cutting; out'the slitshapedi apertures 1 from that-part of the cardboard sheet 8 that is to become, later on, the inside part of the boxs upper surface 8, may be utilized to make the little,

ledges l and ID that are necessary inorderto. introduce and operate the puppets on the little stage.

Other ledges may be cut from another part M of the cardboard sheet, and"preciselyifromwthe" space that will be left over between the parts 6" destined to become the side flaps 6 of thealifting;

outside part of the upper'surface 5, and the parts 4-- destinedvto become-theboX s side surfaces 4. Such. saving of parts out out. in .order to; repre-- sent the curtain- -frame:.of\ astagerand, respec..-- tively, the slit-shapedlapertures in-theinside up,- per surfacenecessary, to introduce and .operate the-"puppets on the-stage while using the recovered cardboard materiallto make the :puppets and. the ledges to-work them, will be greatly facilitated by making: the incisions onrthe cardboard. sheet along the outlines ofthesaidi'part's, butin suchi a was as t'o out the cardboard alinost completely. through; thus leaving the parts to be detached easily applylng allittle pressureon them.

Aftereverything iscut out from therflat sheet of cardboard, the box itselfIassliown-in Figs. 1, 2and .3 and, in-section, in'Fig..t6;,is composedby fdlding-thcparts I! and ll in. a right. angle to-.-

wards part. i l 5 which constitutes. the boxs base, thus erecting thenboxfs front I and back. surfaces,

Part B is thenflfolded forward inorder. to .become the insidepart of; the upper .surface- 8, while. the -long -straight. flap [9' at its extremelendv is folded-downs Partlflisrthen glued on to part H which. is foldedl-back in arightl angle towards part I, but, it is fixed in such a positionlas. to leave part l9" well behind atra little distance from part- I.

Parti' is leftfree, asit is to-become the outside part of theeupper surface. 5, to be lifted, later on into the position.5d.-

The parts l6. are now folded'down in order t'oaform thelinside'parts, l fiof therboxs si'desurfacesrtheytareltojoin the inside upper surface flwithfthelboxh base-part1 5', to which they are: fastened wan glue. at; their extremeen'dsbr flaps lfiinithelmanneriindicatedby I8"'in'"Fi'g. 2'.

,E i nallx'th'e parts 3. are'insert'ed' behindithe frontsurface' I, but before the eXt'reme'end. f9 orflap of. the inside partof the uppersurfa'ce a; thusi enabling; them to slide between.these two. guides. andrepresent the curtain of thelittle theatre; V

AQslig'htly, different way to. const'ructthe .same box is shown in Fig. 9. Here, the sliding curtain lisrunningbetween adoubleset of guides. an uppenand -a-lower one. To achieve thisv end,. a piece of cardboard material 22Tis cut out that,- in-theflatsheet; contains only, the. parts 3"; 4"; 36, [1-6, 1.5:, 161,. I81, and 1 9! asshowninl i'gh l, whiletherpartsl 5 ,6 and IT arecut outlfrom alseparate piece of cardboard material which is then fastened to the upper and lower; ends .of; the.- first piece in order: to, create; together. with the opposed ends of the said first piece, an upper? and lower set of guides for the curtain to slide in.

Having thus described my invention in one preferred embodiment, I do not want this inven- 5 tion to remain circumscribed in the exact particulars described above and represented in the attached designs, because others, following the spirit of my invention might create transfornn able boxes'bywmodifyingqsome; of: my parts and 10 by choosingrperhaps othercombinations of fixed and mobile parts.

I therefore ask to grant me Letters Patent to..protect.my invention within the meaning and range of equivalents of the detailed character :;istics described above, and especially to consider such equivalents as falling under the characteristicsandbombinatibns specified in the following claims:

, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

a-lesserheight.--and ..leng'th than thersame-g; a:

back wall-portion extending. parallel tosaicl front wall portion/having the same llengthvaslthesame but being of slightly lesser height;. a.ceiling; portion extending nor-maltosaid frontandback .wall

portions having-the samewleng-th asthe same-and being: formedlwith: a plurality of-parallel felon-'- gated-slots extending; parallel-to. said rear, wall, and front wall portionafor the passing of 'actuat ing means-for puppets a l stage floor. portion extending, parallel: to: said; ceilingportion having the same length asthe same but: being-slightly wider than the: same;- a narrow strip: portion. integral. with. said front wall portion. and project.-

ing in assembledposition .fromthe :upper edge. thereof normal thereto'oyer'said, ceiling portion and being. secured- .to the same; a; narrow guid-T ing strip. portion integral withlsaid ceilings-portion, andhaving, the-same .lengthas the: same. projecting inaassembled'positiontherefrom at the angleof substantially. 90 downwardly parallel and behind said front wall-.portion s-pacedashort. distance therefrom; two movable side wall:por

tions integral. with saidrrear :W-all 'portionhaving,

the same height as the. same-and a;width= slight.-

' 1y lesser than the-widthof. saidstagefloorportion but larger-thanthe-width of said ceiling portion, each of said movable side wall portionsprojecting from one oflthewtworlateral edges of said-rear wall portionturnable aboutthe same from..a-: firstriposition normal;to-said backwall,

portion and stage floor portion to,asecon'dzposition extending v substantiallyiin; the plane of said rear Wall portion; andltworcurta-im portions having, the: same heighteas; said rear Wall portion and said movable side wall portions and integralwith the latter beingrconnectedto the front edge thereof, and having-substantially half the: length of said front wall portions, said: curtain portions; being arranged between; said: front wall; portion and said uiding strip portion slidable: from an; inner position completely behind- SalG-fIODtITWZIHZ portion and closing said stageopeningytherein to an outer position with only their ends projecting a: short distance: between said frontwall 7 portion! and saidguiding" stripfportion-so to uncover said stage: opening; said curtain pore tions being movable-with saidmovable sidewall portionfrom said inner position to said" outer" position, and being: resiliently curved; in said: outer position.

2. A play theatre stage, comprising in combination, a rectangular front wall portion formed with a rectangular stage opening symmetrically arranged in said front wall portion and having a lesser height and length than the same; a

as the same and being formed with a plurality of parallel elongated slots extending parallel to said rear wall and front wall portion for the passing of actuating means for puppets; a stage floor portion extending parallel to said ceiling portion having the same length as the same but being slightly-wider than the same; a narrow strip portion integral with said front wall portion and projecting in assembled position from the upper edge thereof normal thereto over said ceiling portion and being secured to the same; a narrow guiding strip portion integral with said ceiling portion and having the same length as the same projecting in assembled position therefrom at the angle of substantially 90 downwardly parallel and behind said front wall portion spaced a short distance therefrom; an upper collapsible portion located on said ceiling portion integral with said narrow strip portion and including a rectangular middle portion foldable about the edge of said narrow strip portion spaced from the front wall from a collapsed position parallel to said ceiling portion to an upright position substantially normal thereto, and

two flap portions located at either side of said middle portion extending normal thereto in upright position of the same and adapted to hold the same in upright position; two movable side wall portions integral with said rear wall portion having the same height as the same and a width slightly lesser than the width of said stage floor portion but larger than the width of said ceiling portion, each of said movable side wall portions projecting from one of the two lateral edges of said rear wall portion turnable about the same from a first position normal to said back wall portion and stage floor portion to a second position extending substantially in the plane of said rear wall portion; and two curtain portions having the same height as said rear wall portion said movable side wall portions and integral with the latter being connected to the front edge thereof, and having substantially half the length of said front wall portions, said curtain portions being arranged between said front wall portion and said guiding strip portion slidable from an iimer position completely behind said front wall portion and closing said stage opening therein to an outer position with only their ends projecting a short distance between said front wall portion and said guiding strip portion so as to uncover said stage opening, said curtain portions being movable with said movable side wall portion from said inner position to said outer position, and being resiliently curved in said outer position.

3. A play theatre stage, comprising in combination, a rectangular front wall portion formed with a rectangular stage opening symmetrically arranged in said front wall portion and having a lesser height and length than the same; a back wall portion extending parallel to said front wall portion having the same length as the same but being of slightly lesser height; a ceiling portion extending normal to said front and back portions having the same length as the same and being formed with a plurality of parallel elongated slots extending parallel to said rear wall and front wall portion for the passing of actuating means for puppets; a stage floor portion extending parallel to said ceiling portion having the same length as the same but being slightly wider than the same; a narrow strip portion integral with said front wall portion and projecting in assembled position from the upper edge thereof normal thereto over said ceiling portion and being secured to the same; a narrow guiding strip portion integral with said ceiling portion and having the same length as the sameprojecting in assembled position therefrom at the angle of substantially downwardly parallel and behind said front wall portion spaced a short distance therefrom; two fixed side wall portions integral with said ceiling portion and having the same width as the same and extending in assembled position substantially normal thereto downwardly therefrom and having substantially the same height as said rear wall portion and provided at their edges in assembled position adjacent to the stage floor portion with flap portions for being secured to said stage floor portion; two movable side wall portions integral with said rear wall portion having the same height as the same and a width slightly lesser than the width of said stage floor portion but larger than the width of said ceiling portion, each of said movable side wall portions projecting from one of the two lateral edges of said rear wall portion turnable about the same from a first position normal to said back wall portion and stage floor portion to a second position extending substantially in the plane of said rear wall portion; and two curtain portions having the same height as said rear wall portion and said movable side wall portions and integral with the latter being connected to the front edge thereof, and having substantially half the length of said front wall portions, said ourtain portions being arranged between said front wall portion and said guiding strip portion slidable from an inner position completely behind said front wall portion and closing said stage opening therein to an outer position with only their ends projecting a short distance between said front wall portion and said guiding strip portion so as to uncover said stage opening, said curtain portions being movable with said movable side wall portion from said inner position to said outer position, and being resiliently curved in said outer position.

4. A play theatre stage, comprising in combination, a rectangular front wall portion formed with a rectangular stage opening symmetrically arranged in said front wall portion and having a lesser height and length than the same; a back wall portion extending parallel to said front wall portion having the same length as the same but being of slightly lesser height; a ceiling portion extending normal to said front and back wall portions having the same length as the same and being formed with a plurality of parallel elongated slots extending parallel to said rear wall and front wall portion for the passing of actuating means for puppets; a stage floor portion extending parallel to said ceiling portion having the same length as the same but being slightly wider than the same; a narrow strip portion integral with said front wall portion and projecting in assembled position from the upper edge thereof normal thereto over said ce in po on ndr e n s cured. to; he. s me anarrow guiding strip portion integral withsaid i i po t on nda n e; same n th: s the sameprojecting in assembled position therefrom at the angle of. substantially got-down! wardly parallel and behind said front; wall pore tion spaced a short distance therefrom; two fixed side wall portions integral with said ceiling p01 tion and having the same width as the same: and extending in assembled position substantially normal thereto downwardly therefrom and; having substantially the, same height as said, rear wall portion and provided at their edgesin assembled position adjacent to the stage floor portion with fiapportions for being secured tosaid stagefloorportion; an upper-collapsible portion located on said ceiling portion integral with said narrow strip portion'and including a rectangular middle portion foldable about-the edge of said narrow strip portion spaced from the front wall from a collapsed position parallel-to said-ceiling portion to an uprightposition substantially normal thereto, and-two flap portions located at either-side of said middle pq f ion extending-- nor-- mal thereto in upright-position of the same and adapted to hold the same in upright-position; two movable I side wallportions, integral with said rear wallportionrhaving the same, height as the same and a width slightly lesser thanthe width'of said stage floor portion but larger than V the width of" said ceiling; portion, each of said movable side wall portions projecting from one of the twolateral edges of said rear wall portion turnable; aboutthe same from a first position 8 o m la c i b ck wallp ic an sta afiq po ti n to s cqn s t o ex ending; s'u nw tially in the plane of said rear-wall portion; and two curtain portions'havingthe same height as saidrear wall portion and said movable sidewall portions and integral with the latter being connected to the front edge thereof, and having, substantiall half the length of said front wallpoigtions, said curtain portions beingarrangedbetween said front wall portion and said guiding strip portion slidable from an inner position completely behind said front; wall portionand closing said stage opening therein to an outer position with only their. ends projecting a" short i ta c b fiw vn-i aislf rali wa D a sa u dis tr mphasis a orments. a e o e ing said c rtai or ns. be ng moral able with said movablefside wall portion from said inner position tosaidouter position, and being resiliently curved in saidfouter-raosition,

ER ES O-- 'wasris rs arm The following references are of reoord in the file ofthis patent:

UNITE? STATEfi. wens. 

